Electric-power plant



Nov. 6, 1923. 1,473,586-

H. R. PATTERSON ELECTRI C POWER PLANT Original Filed sent. 10, 1919 22 .75 "-n| |mm|\m|+=* Fri 27 i --/O I JNVENTOR. 'Ha rry R. Patterson ATTORNEY engine as a prime mover and a Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

UNITED STATES HAIRY B. PATTERSON, OI ronnndomo.

ELECTRIC-POWER PLN'I.

Application fled September 10, 1919, Serial Io. 322,795. Renewed larch 27, 1928.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, HARRY R. PA'rrnnsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Electric-Power Plants, of WhlCh I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to electric power plants which include an internal combustion dynamo electric machine adapted to be driven thereby to furnish current to charge a storage battery to supply translating devices such as electric lamps, motors, etc.

An object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical and efiicient system of the nature indicated which will be positive and reliable in its operation and which does not require the attention of a skilled operator for its succemful use.

Further objects of this invention relate to economics of manufacture and details of construction as will hereinafter appear from the detailed description to follow. I accomplish the objects of my invention in one instance by the devices and means described in the following specification, but it is evident that the same may be varied widely without departing from the scope of the invention as pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting one embodiment of my invention, which may be the preferred, 1s illustrated in the accomanying drawings forming a part thereof,

1 m which The single figure of the drawing is a diagrammatic showing of my invention.

On the drawing an internal combustion engine is shown at 5 directly connected by a shaft 6 to a dynamo electric machine 7 having a shunt field winding 8 and a third brush 9 and whose main brushes are connected to the main circuit wires 10 and 11. To the third brush 9 is connected the ignition system for the engine comprising an induction coil 14 having a primary 15 connected to a cam driven interrupter 16 and whose secondary 18 connects with the spark plu 19 of the engine.

'l ranslating devices such as a lamp 20 and a motor 21 are shown connected across the main circuit wires 10 and 11 and also connected across these wires is a storage battery .22 in series with an ampere hour meter 23. Thismeter is adapted to operate'in both directions to indicate both the number of ampere hours put into and taken from the battery. It is provided with a movable contact member 24 and with a stationary contact segment 25. This segment is grounded at 26 and a small condenser 27 has its two terminals connected respectively with the contact members 24 and 25. The movable contact member 24'is normally in engagement with the segment but when the meter indicates that the battery has received a full charge, the member 24 breaks contact with one end of the segment 25.

Arranged in series with the wire 11 is an electromagnetic switch 30 havin a core 31 between end heads 32 and 33. ivoted to the end head 32 is an armature 35 normally held. in a retracted position by a spring 36 whose tension may be varied by means of an adjusting screw 37. At its opposite end the armature 35 carries the contact member 38 insulated from it and adapted to make contact with two stationary contacts 39 and 40. These two stationary contactsare mounted on the end head 33 and insulated therefrom and from each other, the contact 39 being connected with the dynamo electric machine 7 by wire 42 forming a part of the main circuit wire 11, while the contact member connects by means of wire 43 with the shunt field winding 8. A suitable piece 44 of nonmagnetic materialprevents the armature 35 from coming into direct contact with the end head 33. An operating handle 45 is provided for the purpose of depressing the armature 35 to bring the switches controlled thereby into closed circuit position. The

core 31 is provided with .two windings, a

series or current winding 46 and a shunt or potential winding 47. One end of the series winding 46 connects with the contact member 38 carried by the armature, while the other end connects with the circuit wire 11. One end of the potential winding 47 connects by wire 48 with wire 42, while its opposite end connects by wire 49 with the movable contact member 24 of the ampere hour meter. When the battery is being charged by the dynamoelectric machine acting as a generator the series winding 46 and the potential winding 47 act cumulatively to hold the armature in its depressed or circuit closing position.

The operation of. the device is as follows: Suppose with the engine still and the switch and ampere hour meter as illustrated llli in the drawing, it is desired to charge the battery. The hand lever 45 would be rocked to depress the armature to close the shunt field circuit and the charging circuit of the dynamo electric machine. Current thereupon flows from the battery through the ampere hour meter, the electromagnetic switch, the shunt field winding and the armature of the dynamo electric .machine, whereby this machine will operate as a motor to turn over the engine. Suitable E. M. F. will be supplied from third brush 9 to the ignition system of the engine. Lever 45 will be held in the rocked position until engine begins to operate under its own power and reaches normal s eed when it may be released. Current will now flow from the dynamo electric machine through the elec tromagnetic switch and the battery to charge it and the combined flux due to the current winding 46 and the potential winding 47 will be sufficient to hold the armature 35 in closed circuit position. During charging the contact member 24 of the ampere hour meter rotates in a clockwise direction in contact with the grounded segment 25 but at the completion of the charge the member 24 rides ofl the segn1ent'25 opening the circuit of the potential Winding 47. Inasmuch as the electromagnetic switch 30 is designed to require the energization of its potential winding in addition to the energization of its current winding under normal charging conditions, it will be seen that upon opening of the potential circuit the armature 35 will be restored to its open circuit position thereby opening the shunt field circuit and the main charging circuit. The E. M. F. of the dynamo electric machine will fall to a value insufficient to provide for proper ignition and the engine accordingly soon comes to rest, the apparatus automatically resuming the condition with which the description of the operation was started. As current is drawn from the battery by the translating devices, the ampere hour meter will operate in a direction the reverse of its operation when the battery was being charged and the contact member 24 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction re-engaging the segment 25 and remaining in contact therewith until the battery is again given a full charge.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of an internal combustion engine having an ignition system, a dynamo electric machine driven thereby having a shunt field winding and a third brush con nected to supply current to said i nition system, a storage battery connecte to be charged by said machine, an electromag netic switch in said charging circuit for and a circuit for translating devices connected to said battery.

2. In system of the class described, the combination of a dynamo-electric machine, a battery connected in circuit to be charged thereby, an electro-magnetic switch in said chargin circuit, said switch including a potentia Winding, and an ampere hour meter in series with said battery, said meter being constructed to normally maintain the circuit of said potential winding closed and to open the same when a predetermined quantity of electricity has been received by said battery.

3. In a system of the class described, the combination of a dynamo-electric machine, a battery connected in circuit to be charged thereby, an electro-magnetic switch in said charging circuit having a potential winding, an ampere hour meter in series with said battery, said meter having cooperating contacts connected in circuit with said potential winding and constructed to hold the circuit of said winding closed during the charging of the battery and to open the same when a predetermined quantity been received by the battery.

4. In a system of the class described, the combination of a dynamo electric machine. a battery connected in circuit to be charged thereby, a switch in said charging circuit, manual means for closing said switch, electro-magnetic means for holding said switch closed, an ampere hour meter in series with said battery comprisin co-o rating contact members for normal y hol ing the circuit of said electro-magnetic means closed during charging and discharging of said battery and for opening said last circuit only while the quantity of electricity stored in said battery is above a predetermined amount.

5. In a system of the class described, the combination of a dynamo-electric machine, a battery connected in circuit to be charged thereby, an electro-magnetic switch in said charging circuit having a current winding, manual means for closing said switch, a potential winding for holding said switch closed, an ampere hour meter in said battery circuit having co-operating contacts for holding the circuit of said potential winding closed during the normal charging and discharging of said battery and for holding said last circuit open only while said battery is fully char ed.

6. In a system 0 the class described, the combination of a dynamo-electric machine of electricity has a havin a shunt field circuit, a battery connecte in circuit to be. charged thereby, an eleotro-magnetic switch for controlling said charging circuit and said field circuit, a hand lever for closing said switch, a current winding and a potential winding for said switch, an ampere hour meter in series with said battery havin co-operating contacts for controlling t e circuit of said potential winding, said contacts remaining closed during the normal charging and discharging of said battery and adapted to open only while said battery is fully charged whereby said charging and said field circuits are automatically opened at full battery charge and the same circuits will be automatically held closed after a manual operation of said switch when said battery is other than fully charged.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

.HARRY R. PATTERSON. 

